Memoires of Rales Sarethi, A Morrowind fanfic Options

[Remko]

Dear readers, I posted this in the unnamed forum but since you were so kind to invite me here, I thought I'd "grace" you with my drivel. Without further adue, I present you the adventures of Rales Sarethi.

Part I Homecoming

Chapter 1: Seyda Neen.

Day 1

Over thirty-five years ago, I think I was about nineteen, maybe twenty, I got pulled from my bunk in the cell in Imperial City and was told I was to be deported to Vvardenfell immediately. First by carriage and then by boat.
Gods, even up to this day I resent carriage rides, they’re bumpy, dusty and tiresome, I prefer a horseback ride anyday.

The seajourney is pretty much a blur in my recollection, the gentle relaxing motion of the boat made me drift into a careless and refreshing slumber.
I briefly opened my eyes at times the sea was exceptionally rough and I remember a gentle yet compelling voice speaking to me. Can’t remember the words though, just the sound of the voice that stuck with me.

I woke up when a fellow Dunmer, one donning a huge scar across his face, told me we had arrived and that I needed to get off the boat. He called himself Jiub and asked what my name was. I politely answered my name was Rales. I didn’t bother telling him my last name, after all, he hadn’t told his either.
I never saw the guy again after I disembarked. A shame really, he was kind of like-able.

A grumpy Redguard legionnaire ordered me to report in at the Census and Excise office outside. Like I had a choice. On the boardwalk towards the offices, an Imperial officer asked me several random questions, like my race. Like he couldn’t see for himself. Sjeezzz…. I had to refrain myself from rolling my eyes and possibly insulting or upsetting the guy. Instead, I acted like the good Dunmer they wanted me to be, I played along and answered his questions.

After I had satisfied his curiosity he ordered me to report in at the office for my release form. ‘Release form? I was going to be released?’
I could hardly believe my pointy ears at that time. Let me tell you; looking back on what they had me go through, sometimes I wished they had left me to rot in prison. With a straight face I walked towards the rickety wooden structure that was the consensus and excise office. I couldn’t be showing surprise about my release, what if they had made a mistake and changed their mind?

Quickly I proceeded into the building. An elderly Imperial was sitting behind a desk, going through piles and piles of documents. Pre-occupied as he seemed to be, he hadn’t noticed me yet or maybe he was just ignoring me. Perhaps it had been my body-odour? Figuring that was hardly my fault, they were the ones that had plucked me from my cell, dropped me on a boat and had me report into an office without the chance to clean myself up. I shrugged and softly cleared my throat to get his attention, I didn’t want to startle the old man lest he would die from a heart-attack. Knowing my luck, they’d probably blame me and I’d be back where I started, in jail.

The following conversation with the old git almost felt like a job-interview. Socusius Ergalla, the census and excise officer, asked me all sorts of questions; like my starsign, my skills and whatnot. I didn’t have a clue what they wanted with the info but since it was hardly a secret, I just answered them while the Imperial wrote it all down on some sort of form. After the interview, Socusius told me to take my release form (that’s what the form turned out to be) to Selles Gravius where I’d receive orders. I was almost speechless - almost. ‘Orders? Whatfor?’ I remember exclaiming. He just shrugged. Apparantly he hadn’t a clue either. Well, that made two of us so I went to Gravius, hoping he would tell me more.

Halfway to Selles Gravius I got distracted by a hallway behind a sturdy looking wooden door that led to some sort of a basement where I found a variety of items. Some silverware, some bottles containing local booze, an iron dagger and a bag to put in the items I had “found”.
Ofcourse, only then I realised I still had to see that Gravius guy. He would notice me carrying a bag, suspiciously tingling with all sorts of gear a newly released prisoner shouldn’t have yet. I put the bag next to the table where I had found the dagger, checked my release form was still in my pocket and went to see Selles Gravius.

Gravius wasn’t much of a talker and looked like a formidable warrior. In fact; it made me wonder what in Sheogorath’s name he was doing here in this lousy office. When I asked him while handing him the form he almost bit off my head saying it was none of my busines and unpatiently snatched the release form from my hands. He glimpsed me over for a while with one eyebrow raised and ordered me to wait for a moment while he looked up some documents I was going to need. A few moments later he handed me a letter, some gold I quickly pocketed and a mysterious package for a certain Caius Cosades in Balmora, who-ever that may be. I figured I’d find out soon enough and didn’t ask any more questions.

Having been through that, - what I still consider a bureaucratical ordeal - as I went to retrieve my bag, I suddenly remembered there was a rainbarrel outside I hadn’t looked into. I had little gold and a dagger but no water, no food, no nothing so anything I could find would be useful and most of all; for free.
Turned out it only contained a ring with some engraving. Unfortunately I couldn’t make out what it was saying so I put it in my pocket, again wandered through the offices with an air like nothing was out of the ordinary, fetched the bag and made my way into Seyda Neen.
I was my own man again. I was free to go where I wanted.

***

My first steps outside were, well, quite frankly, disappointing. You’d expect a town with the main docks into Vvardenfell would be a big, prospering town. Suffice to say it wasn’t.
As a matter of fact, it was just the opposite. Most of the houses were run-down, shabby shacks, trading was limited to one tradinghouse and a swamp surrounded it so flies swarmed the town.
I won’t even mention the smell.

Still, I was in Morrowind, I could finally look up relatives I knew to still live here. My mother had told me plenty of stories of her and her cousin Athyn playing together. I couldn’t remember which town though, but from what I’ve been taught, the Sarethi family is well-known and shouldn’t be too hard to track down.

My sense of pride prevented me running off to find them right away, I could hardly arrive wearing nothing but the raggedy clothes, looking like a bum. I wanted to make a name for myself first. I wanted them to be proud to hail back a long-lost relative
For now, my pride would have to wait, I had more pressing matters, like finding somewhere to stay the night.

While looking around and - metaphorically speaking - sniffing up the atmosphere a Woodelf came upto me grinning child-like. The chap introduced himself as Fargoth and extended his hand which I grabbed. From moment one I knew I was going to like this friendly little fellow. Turned out he had been bullied and his family heirloom, a ring, had been taken from him. He told me it was magical and allowed the wearer to heal himself.

‘Would it have engraving, like this?’ I remember asking him while pulling the ring I had found in the barrel outside the office from my pocket and held it in front of his nose. Fargoth frantically shook his head and told me that was the one.
I was happy to give it back to him. Trinkets are easier to find than good friends and the gods know I could use some friends being a stranger in a strange land.
Singing happily he wandered off but not before he told me he was going to tell his friend Arrille a kind Darkelf had returned his ring to him and how happy he was to have it back.
I simply smiled.

My rumbling stomach made me aware that I needed to find something to eat as well. After some asking around I soon found out Arrille’s establishment was the only tradehouse around. If I wanted to survive any trip outside of town, I needed some sort of protection, I needed armour and a weapon and some supplies so I headed off to Arrille’s.

Politely the High Elf, Arille, greeted me and was quick to realize I must have been the stranger that had given Fargoth his ring back. He confirmed what I suspected, Fargoth was slightly retarded, he had the mind of a child and was almost chronically happy.

I removed the items from the bag I wanted to sell and displayed them on the counter in front of Arrille. We came to an agreement, he would gladly take all the items from my hands and I would buy the chitin cuirass, pauldrons and gauntlets, some food, a couple of useful spells and some scrolls. Even with those purchases I had more gold in my pocket than when I had entered the tradehouse. I had kept the dagger.
Then it hit me, I still didn’t have a real weapon, the iron dagger I had kept was hardly any more use than as a butterknife.
In the excitement I had forgotten to buy a real weapon. I double backed into Arrille’s and bought a chitin bow and some arrows.
Now I was set to face whatever was coming to me in the wild, or at least, that’s what I thought at that time.

I nibbled on a Kwama egg on a loaf of bread and adressed some inhabitants. Some locals mentioned Ergalla Socucius was looking for a missing tax collector, Processus Vitellius.
I wasn’t really feeling like heading back into the Census and Excise office, I had just left the damn thing, I decided to do some looking around myself. How hard would it be to find an Imperial tax collector?

Since it is always a good idea getting at least an idea where someone missing could hang out, I asked around for him. Ofcourse, blabbermouth Fargoth had heard rumours the Dunmer in the watchtower, Thavere Vedrano, was the only being able to stomach him. Apparantly, the guy was somewhat obnoxious. It was a start so I headed off to the lighthouse when in the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of something shiny – a weapon perhaps? – in a hollow stump. It cost me a pair of wet feet and trousers getting the item from the stump but it was well worth it. The enchanted axe would get me quite some gold, I never cared for axes, they are too heavy and too encumbring, so I intended on selling it but it would have to wait until I solved this mystery.

[Remko]

Awww... shucks.... Thanks everyone!

While she told me about the shrines, I slipped her a clue Caius had sent me. Her voice changed from slightly pedantic to a whisper and told me to follow her to a more secluded area where we could talk freely. Nodding, I followed her lead to the back of the library, between several bookcases.
Frantically - I don’t think she had much sense of discretion - she looked around to check if no-one had followed us and told me all she knew about the Sixth House cult. From what I understood, this cult worshipped the unmourned, lost House Dagoth and its evil leader; Dagoth Ur in the Red Mountain at the heart of Vvardenfell.

Like Huleeya, she handed me a summary of everything we had just discussed and advised me to read the book called:”Progress of Truth.” Good thing I had already bought it with Jobasha.
‘Thank you, I’ll go see about that shrine,’ I said, slightly louder than normal speaking volume. Much to her credit, she picked up on it and wished me good luck with my pilgrimage.

Longing to get back to Zerina and our rented suite, I took a gondola to the Redoran canton and tipped the gondolier to make haste. Halfway I got annoyed with the slow pace and shoved the gondolier aside, stating I’d row myself. The poor guy almost fell into the canal. All in all, the day had been a good day; I had visited two out of three of my informants in a single day. If I’d be able to locate Addhirannir – the Khajiit informant - just as quick the next day, I’d manage to finish my mission in two days rather than three, leaving one day for Zerina and me to have some fun. The thought alone brought an ear-to-ear smile to my face. I even managed to get back in time to have dinner together.

***

Passing by a vendor on my way back to “The Flowers of Gold”, I couldn’t resist buying Zerina a present. A truly gorgeous silver necklace with a highly detailed pendant and a flawless ruby in the center, matching the colour of her hair, caught my eye. The seller tried to convince me it was an antiquity, almost as old as the Tribunal. I had my own thoughts about that but didn’t insult him by arguing. It probably would’ve only raised the price - it was expensive enough as it was. A delicate, black mahogany box with gold lining around the edges came with the necklace. Cautiously, he placed the necklace on the red silk cushion in the small box. I could swear the box alone was worth half the value of the necklace. I couldn’t wait to see Zerina’s face when she would open the giftwrap and the box inside, after dinner.

With the gift hidden in my sleeve, I entered the suite only to find Zerina wasn’t there. Some personal belongings, she’d never leave behind for long, were evidence she had been back to the room, if only briefly. I hid the present among my other belongings, hoping she wouldn’t find it and spoil the surprise for herself.

‘Have you seen Zerina?’ I asked Sorosi Radobar, the proprietor of the tavern.
‘Who? Oooh, you mean the kind lady that was with you yesterday? She’s downstairs, taking a bath.’
‘A what? Ah, never mind, thanks.’
‘Would you like a towel?’ Gladly I took the incredibly soft towel she handed me, bought a bottle of wine and headed downstairs. Apparantly, they had a room especially for bathing. Something I had never seen before.

Of course, the door was locked.
‘Is that you, Rales?’ Zerina asked after I knocked.
‘Yeah, open the door will you?’
Several moments later, Zerina opened the door with a towel wrapped around her upper body. Her wet hair, heavy with the weight of the water, reached all the way to her waist. I gasped with the sight.
To keep the heat inside the room, I hastily took off my boots, stepped carefully inside the room so I wouldn’t slip on the wet tiles and locked the door behind me.

Zerina had already got back inside the gigantic bathtub - it could easily be used by five people at the same time.
‘Be a dear and channel some heat through those pipes,’ she asked me and pointed at pipes that ran underneath the bath.
The cleverness of the heating installation looked familiar. ‘Its designer must have taken a good look at some of the constructs inside Dwemer ruins,’ I mused.
I focused my will and channeled a firespell through the pipes. I made sure not to overdo it so the water wouldn’t get blistering hot all of a sudden.
A satisfied ‘Aah…’ confirmed I had got it just right.
After I had undressed, I filled two glasses and joined Zerina in the bathtub.
‘What took you so long?’ Zerina jested.
I scoffed and stuck out my tongue. She laughed, peddled over and nested herself in my arms.

***

My muscles relaxed and little pains that ached me, evaporated in the steaming water and underneath Zerina’s soft, yet firm hands.
The bath was such a delight, I immediately made up my mind to have one constructed in our house as well, although not as big as this one. The water was lightly scented - I think it was lavender - but thankfully not too femine. We soaked in the calming bath, enjoying each other’s company until our skin was wrinkled and the bottle of wine was empty.

Back in our room, still dripping and wrapped in a moist towel, Zerina insisted I donned my best clothes for the night; she had planned a dinner in a nice tavern she had come across while shopping.
‘Do you think you’re gonna need that?’ she asked with a smile when I strapped Wretched - my sword - around my waist.
‘Good habits die hard,’ I retorted and unbuckled the scabbard. When she turned around, facing the life-size mirror to do her hair, I slipped the gift into my left sleeve.

I had no idea where Zerina had bought my new robe, a dark green one with gold thread stitched in intricate patterns, but somehow she managed to find a better looking one every single time.
Not to mention the absolutely divine dress she was wearing that night; it almost seemed alive as the dark purple silk swirled around her legs when she moved. She appeared to be floating rather than walking.
I resisted getting down on my knees and thanking the gods for the happiness they had bestowed upon me.

The chique tavern Zerina had seen was in the Redoran Plaza, the level above the Waistworks, where “The Flowers of Gold” was located.
I was glad it was in the area, I had wandered through Vivec more than enough that day.
Half an hour later, we were seated at a table for two and each ordered a glass of expensive, imported wine. I never really acquired a taste for the local beverages, I retained my taste for Cyrodyliic wine and brandy.
The service was terrific. As soon as either of us emptied our glass, a waiter would be standing ready to re-fill it - if so desired.

We both ordered the same, a crabcocktail as an appetiser and roasted Netchmeat with fresh vegetables on the side as the main-course. I wasn’t sure what to expect but the cocktail was a lot more tasteful than what I called a “Rales Special”, which basically was a Mudcrab I cast a fireball - just big enough to kill it – at it so it was cooked while still in its shell. The first time had been an accident, I had meant to roast - proverbally speaking - a cursed flying rat behind it but my aim had been off so I hit the crab instead. Since I was starving, I still ate it even though I thought it had been burned to a crisp. I had been wrong; it turned out to be delicious. Even better than raw.

The Netch meat was very different from what I expected. To be quite frank, I would have chosen a different main course because floating Jelly Fish doesn’t sound tasteful at all, but Zerina insisted I’d try it. The texture was similar to beef but it tasted sweeter, almost like venison. The dish came with a sauce that reminded me of the sauce that is usually served with game but slightly more bitter. When I inquired about the sauce, I learned it was made from Gomberries and sweetened with a dash of Moon-Sugar. The cook sure knew what he was doing.

During coffee after dinner, I took the gift from my sleeve. When she opened the box her eyes were positively beaming and asked me where I had gotten it from. I made some vague remark about having taken it off the dead. With her toes she kicked me underneath the table while acting insulted. Some other customers looked at us in dismay when I suddenly let out an honest laugh in reaction to her act. The purple dress looked like it was made to be worn together with the necklace; a match made in heaven. Of course she persuaded me into telling the truth eventually. Her persuasion methods - involving plenty of kisses - had been worth the kick a thousand-fold.

The walk back to the suite took twice as long as it took to get to the restaurant. After our dinner, we had ordered a second bottle of wine- and a third.
Zerina fell on the bed face-first and slept almost instantly. I gently undressed her, taking care not to wake her up or to ruin her dress in the process, and tucked her in. With a semi-amused grin seeing her passed out like that I snuck into bed next to her. I remember thinking she was in for a rough night just before I dozed off into an alcohol-induced haze of blurryness.

Halfway the night, my final thought proved prophecy. I woke up to familiar noises coming from the privvy. Knowing exactly how miserable she must have felt, I only poured her a big cup of lukewarm water, put it on her bed-side table and left her alone. I stayed awake to comfort her once she’d return. I was no stranger to the symptoms and knew all too well what one usually wanted most after just having spewed one’s guts out; a drink of water and warmth. But mostly sleep.
Pale as a sheet, she slumped back into the bedroom shivering, with a look on her face that had an accusing ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ written all over it.
Once back in bed she was glad to crawl snug-close to me to benefit from my body-heat and, luckily for her, slept through the rest of the night undisturbed.